I wonder why Daily Mail calls that self-proclaimed “cryptozoologist” Igor Burtsev a scientist and an academic. He has a (formal) doctorate degree, but in historical sciences, not in biology. I doubt he ever did any serious research on historical subjects, as he’s been hunting “snowmen” since 1965! He also heads the non-commercial “Cryptosphere foundation for scientific searches and explorations” and the so-called “International Center of hominid research” – the two groups of “monster hunters”.

A quick search on “КемГУ Бурцев” gives several dozens links to the press release issued from the KemSU press center. In short, they state that all the claims made by mr.Burtsev are just plain wrong. They guess that some scientists may have an individual interest in “snowman research”, but the university itself has no plans for setting up any kind of a “bigfoot research institute”.

“He strongly denies accusations that the ‘sightings’ are a bizarre ruse to attract tourists to the far-flung region.” – that passage made me laugh, as that’s the very thing Kemerovo government is doing! Looks like mr.Burtsev was lucky to talk some government officials into using his crazy bigfoot evidence to attract travellers. But it still has nothing to do with the KemSU or science.

I have a special place in my heart (head really) for the abominable snow man. I used to draw different versions of it all the time as a kid. This article joy-buzzed a nostalgia I didn’t even know I had.